A Writer’s Paris, a
guided journey for the creative soul
by Eric Maisel
This
little, 5x7” book with its soft, linen-feel, mustard-colored
look reminds me of an authentic Parisian writer’s book.
Maisel’s enthusiasm for Paris is contagious. He describes the
Place des Vosges, which he believes is “the most beautiful
square in the world. Renaissance townhouses have street-level
arcades filled with cafes, art galleries, and classical musicians
in the summer.” He describes this location as lively, quiet,
shady, safe, inviting, and gorgeous. His routine is to write for an
hour, move to a cafe table under the arcade for an espresso, write
some more, stroll twice around the square, and again, resume his
writing.
Maisel is obviously a
veteran writer smitten with Paris. He recommends renting a small
studio for three to six months and plan a schedule of writing for
two hours, stroll, write for two more hours, visit a museum or
other interesting place, and write for a last two hours of the
day.
He believes “Paris improves your writing because it teaches
you something profound about intimacy. You can walk directly to the
Seine--it is there for the touching. You can sit down at a cafe
table and let life envelop you. You can enter an ancient church and
use it as your study. These lessons infiltrate your writing and
cause you to write more poignantly. You better understand gestures,
epiphanies, and fleeting moments after your Paris
education.”
The author writes about a variety of famous writers and where they
wrote, challenges they encountered, and solutions they found.
His book cover blurb reads, “Enrich your creative life and
write with more intensity than ever before on a spirit-renewing
adventure in the City of Light. Experience it not as a tourist but
as a creator, where you dedicate yourself to the bohemian writing
life in picturesque parks, cafes, and bookstores.
“Writers and other creative souls will be captivated by the
metaphor and reality of Paris as the artist’s true home, and
how it can inspire you to create. Authored by today’s leading
creativity coach, Eric Maisel, it’s an inspirational read,
and a dream journey for creatives.”
After reading this book, I was motivated to find my own little
Paris somewhere near by. Recently I found my secret spot which
contains my own table and chair. The first few minutes I found
myself annoyingly entertained by a little girl running in circles
and yelling to her young parents, “Look at me! Look at
me!” over and over again. They ignored her. I wonder how her
four-year-old mind processes that? And that was fodder for what I
was writing about.
I had wanted my own Paris with cafes, parks, and buildings with
gargoyles protecting their ancient architecture and acting as
inspiration for me to write. Here, instead, I have people of all
nationalities I can watch. I have decorations declaring the season.
I have scenery populated with people of all ages, people scurrying
about, vendors opening their kiosks and arranging their goods. I
have my own writer’s Paris only a few miles from home,
private in that I am essentially unseen, and comfortable enough to
be inspired to write. My location almost fits his--”lively,
quiet, safe, inviting, and gorgeous.”
What a gift this writer gives to his readers! Taken literally, you
could save your money and find a real place to live in Paris for a
few months or, like me, you could find your own sanctuary, a place
without cost, a place you can chose to leave at any time, a place
which allows your mind to stretch and your hand to write. I found
mine. Now it’s your turn!